This specification provides the definition of the Chart of accounts message (CHACCO) to be used in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) between trading partners involved in administration, commerce and transport.

This message deals with the communication of charts of accounts between an organization and whoever may use them for the purpose of accounting, auditing, cost accounting, consolidation, financial analysis, etc.

The Chart of accounts message may be used for both national and international applications. It is based on universal practice related to administration, commerce and transport, and is not dependent on the type of business or industry.

The chart of accounts may be set up by an enterprise, a service bureau, a chartered accountant or an auditor - referred to as sender - for appropriate parties - known as recipient - such another enterprise, another service bureau, another chartered accountant or another auditor.

The chart of accounts is a systematically organized list of accounts that is sufficiently detailed to allow the recording of operations affecting the financial conditions of an organization. The chart of accounts can be either in accordance with sector-based accounting standards, national or international, or those established by an organization.

The message CHACCO contains information about a set of accounts for a given period. The frequency of data collection ranges from daily to annually.